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Motivation Point

Carla Esparza: Exceptionally Talented and Accomplished American Professional Mixed Martial Artist Reveals her Success mantra "Success is the best revenge"

Carla Esparza is an exceptionally talented and accomplished American professional mixed martial artist. She has been UFC Women's Strawweight Champion and also first Invicta FC Strawweight Champion. She is in conversation with Namita Nayyar President Women Fitness.

Ms. Namita Nayyar: Your foray into mixed martial arts began when you started wrestling for the varsity team during your junior year at Redondo Union High School in Redondo Beach, California. After winning multiple local and national high school wrestling tournaments, you were awarded a scholarship to Menlo College to wrestle under coach and former two-time Olympian Lee Allen.You reached the pinnacle of success when you became first Invicta FC strawweight champ. Tell us about your journey that took you to where you are now in the world of being a women mixed martial art fighter? What factors you consider were responsible that made you achieve that?

Ms. Carla Esparza: It has been a long, hard journey from that first day I stepped on the mat at RUHS, but I wouldn't trade it for a second. MMA has taken me to a place I'd never thought I'd be in.
When I first came into the sport, I never imagined in my wildest dreams that all of the opportunities we have now could be a possibility. When I first started fighting, there wasn't much money or recognition for women in the sport of MMA, it was a constant battle to find fights, and to make ends meet with a fighters salary. In a way, I am happy I experienced all of that though, I think it made me appreciate what I have now that much more.

Ms. Namita Nayyar: Elaborate on your spectacular achievement of winning the inaugural UFC Women's Strawweight Championship by defeating Rose Namajunas on 12th December 2014?

Ms. Carla Esparza: Well, fortunately the world was able to see part of my journey on the road to becoming the first ever UFC strawweight champion because it was documented in the 20th season of The Ultimate Fighter. So pretty much the whole world knew the difficult road I had to the belt, which made getting my hand raised in that title fight that much sweeter. It was a fight I went into with a lot of stress, not only because of the magnitude of this win, fighting in front of the biggest audience I've ever been in front of, but a big part of it was because I felt I had a weight of expectations on me. I came into the tournament as the #1, and I felt pressure to keep that momentum going.

Ms. Namita Nayyar: On 5th January 2013 you won against Bec Rawlings in Invicta FC 4: Esparza vs. Hyatt at Kansas City, Kansas, United States and became inaugural Invicta FC Strawweight Championship. Tell us about this winning fight and how did you feel on the winning the bout?

Ms. Carla Esparza: Well, at the time, Invicta was the "UFC for women". Invicta FC was the premiere league for the top women in the sport. When I got offered the title fight, I had already fought and won 2 times in Invicta. Getting the opportunity to fight for that first Invicta strawweight title was an honor in itself, and to walk away with that belt was the highlight of my career at that point.

Ms. Namita Nayyar: You possess an exceptional fighter physique. What exercises comprise your fitness regime or workout routine you shall like to share?

Ms. Carla Esparza: Because mixed martial arts is comprised of so many different elements, I get to train a multitude of martial arts that all work out different body parts. I also have a strength and conditioning coach from Innovative Results in Costa Mesa who has me doing a bunch of different types of cool exercises, such as super sets of ball slams and squat jumps, or side to side sprints and skipping, or barrel pulls. Those are some of my faves.

Ms. Namita Nayyar: Do you take some special diet or have a strict menu that you follow to remain healthy and physically fit?

Ms. Carla Esparza: Yes I have a nutritionist who gives me specific instructions of what to eat depending on what type of fight I plan to have to have. An example would be a 5 round title fight as opposed to a 3 round fight, he'd give me a diet plan to promote endurance. He is big on promoting red blood cell production to increase my lung capacity.

Ms. Namita Nayyar: Advice and motivational words to the inspiring and budding mixed martial artist girls who all are your fans, they shall like to know from you, what they should do for their climb to ladder of success in field of women mixed martial art professional fighting?

Ms. Carla Esparza: A big word of advice would be to just continue to stay the course in training, and don't let anyone's doubts bring you down. Success is the best revenge.

Ms. Namita Nayyar: You must had your share of injuries during professional fights. How you were able to overcome such a physical injury/setback and what advice you can give to fellow fighter person in a similar situation?

Ms. Carla Esparza: I've had many injuries throughout my career in wrestling and MMA, my best words of advice would be is let your injuries recover, and don't come back too soon. It's hard because you want to get back to doing what you love, but in the long run this could hurt you more.

Ms. Namita Nayyar: With exceptional hard work you are credited with all your achievements. Do you believe that does the hand of Providence (Supreme Being) played a role in
your success?

Ms. Carla Esparza: I feel people have to make their dreams happen. We can have the best or the worst situations, it's what we do with it that counts.

Ms. Namita Nayyar: You have many achievements in women mixed martial art, having won UFC Women's Strawweight Champion, Performance of the Night, The Ultimate Fighter 20 Tournament Winner, Invicta FC Strawweight Championship and 2013 Pan-American Jiu-Jitsu Championship Female Blue Belt Silver Medal. Tell us how these 'wins' bestow upon you additional responsibility towards the sports of mixed martial art ?

Ms. Carla Esparza: I try not to dwell on my accomplishments too much because I want to focus on future goals. Sometimes I even forget what a big part I have played in the growth of WMMA, but it's important for me to remember what these things mean to people, women, and especially young girls all over. I feel like I am a role model, and all of my actions are representative of not only me, but what I do, so I have to always carry myself with that in mind.

Ms. Namita Nayyar: Who has been your greatest influencer and motivator in your success in the field of your career in competitive women mixed martial art professional fighting?

Ms. Carla Esparza: Definitely my coach, Colin Oyama. I have been with him for close to 8 years, and he has been leading me on the right path since I started. I don't know where I would be without him today. I owe a huge part of my success to his coaching and mentoring.

Ms. Namita Nayyar: What you wish to say about the website Womenfitness.net and message for its visitors?

Ms. Carla Esparza: Thank you so much for the opportunity to be apart of Women Fitness, it is an honor to be included in an article of an organization that supports women, and not only women, but fit women! Strong is beautiful.

To know the latest about Carla Esparza, check out her social network at:

• https://twitter.com/carlaesparza1

• https://www.facebook.com/EsparzaMMA

Women Fitness Team thanks Carla Esparza for giving her valuable time for this interview and quenching the thirst of her fans to know more about her and shall also like to thank Brian Butler � Au, Managing Partner of Suckerpunch Entertainment Inc who made this interview happen.

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Dated 18 May 2015